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UF receivers coach Aubrey Hill resigns

GAINESVILLE | With just over four weeks before the season starts, Florida’s football team lost a coach.

Receivers coach Aubrey Hill, a former UF receiver, resigned late Thursday night. Hill was entering his second season on the Gators’ coaching staff. In addition to coaching receivers, Hill was UF’s recruiting coordinator. His resignation was announced by UF on Friday morning.

“Obviously we released a statement this morning about Aubrey’s situation,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said Friday night.

“I met with our staff and players late last night. Obviously disappointed in the situation, but I really don’t have anything more to say. It’s a personal situation with Aubrey. It has nothing to do with the University of Florida, and we wish him well, and he’ll always be a Gator.

“It was very surprising. It was all him.”

Hill was linked to the Nevin Shapiro booster scandal at Miami, where he served as the Hurricanes receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2008-10. Shapiro alleges Hill was present when Shapiro had impermissible contact and gave impermissible benefits to Miami recruits. The NCAA is still investigating the matter, which was reported by Yahoo! Sports a year ago.

“I have too much love and respect for this program to become a distraction as I deal with some personal issues,” Hill said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to have worked with Coach Muschamp, a tremendous staff and great group of players. The future is very bright here, and the University of Florida will always have a special place in my heart. Go Gators.”

Muschamp announced that offensive coordinator Brent Pease and graduate assistant Bush Hamdan will coach the receivers. Pease also serves as UF’s quarterbacks coach. Hamdan was a backup quarterback at Boise State from 2005-08 while Pease was on the Broncos’ staff. Last season, Hamdan coached tight ends at Sacramento State.

Muschamp stated he’d fill the position permanently in December.

“Brent, with his expertise with receivers, is well documented,” Muschamp said. “He’s really good.

“Bush has a great background with the offense, so I feel very comfortable with that situation, and I’m not at all worried. I never blinked. We’re going to be fine.”

The loss of Hill adds to the unsettled nature of Florida’s receiving corps. No returning receiver for the Gators caught more than 16 passes last season.

Muschamp said he would act as his own recruiting coordinator. The Gators currently have 22 commitments. Four of whom are receivers, including Bishop Kenny standout Ahmad Fulwood. The 6-foot-4, 189-pound Fulwood said he remained committed to the Gators following Hill’s departure. Rivals.com ranks UF’s class as the third-best in the nation.

Hill, 40, was a team captain at UF his senior year in 1994. He caught 86 passes and scored 18 touchdowns in his career.